The Boer Goat Whisperer from Rogersville, Missouri
ROGERSVILLE, MO. – Situated on 36 acres of wooded and open farmland between Springfield and Rogersville, Missouri, Judy specializes in spotted and colored Boer does and bucks. Her goats are sold off the farm as breeding stock to folks across the nation.
Judy’s start in goats came about as with so many goat owners: buying a goat to eat down brush. It was Judy’s father, John Domeny, who purchased a sale barn goat to clear off land behind their 1940s-built round-top barn. The goat birthed two kids a week later. “That’s when I fell in love with goats!” Judy recalled. “Everybody loves baby goats.”
Judy’s farm is a portion of the original 80 acres in southeast Greene County that her parents purchased in 1961. “I’m literally still on the old home place,” she commented.
Judy spent 30 years teaching elementary art in the Willard and Logan-Rogersville school systems. Also, a well-known singer of Ozarks folks songs as well as original songs about being a teacher, she had pet goats most of those years. She and her husband, David Bowen, built a home on a corner of her parent’s land in the early 1990s. David passed away in 2020.
Along the way, Judy partnered with neighbor Layman Essary of Essary’s Green Acres Boer Goats. That’s when her love of goats turned from having pets to raising high quality Boers. “Layman taught me everything I know about taking good care of goats, including how and what to feed, medical care, the selection process, hoof trimming, etc. He had great goats. When I came on board I helped him work them, register them and advertise them online, generally increasing visibility of the fine goats he was raising. We were a really great team.” Layman passed away in July of 2023. “I miss him every single day.” Judy laments.
Recently Judy hired fellow goat producer and neighbor, Kyle Buscho, to enlarge her red barn to better shelter her herd of over 150 goats. She had him add a small office in the barn. The unique office houses notebooks full of written records of goat registrations, births, deaths, sales, and health treatments that fill the shelves. Her life as an art teacher is reflected on walls showcasing paintings of her goats created by her many artist friends. Beyond expanding the barn, Judy had additional goat fencing put in place and added several automatic waterers. “Heated waterers in the winter – what a fantastic luxury!” she exclaimed.
Judy’s Boer goat herd primarily consists of Layman Essary’s lineage of does. She purchases a new herd sire every couple of years, always striving to build on and improve the herd’s genetics. “My does are bred through natural cover. We tried artificial insemination one year, but results of does conceiving were not high enough for me to continue that method.” shared Judy.
Judy purchases hay from local producers. She has round bales of grassy alfalfa hay available year-round for her goats. Her goats have over 30 acres of fields to graze as well as a wooded area with an abundance of brush for the goats to eat. When it’s kidding time, she supplements mama does with small square bales of alfalfa hay. She feeds grain mixed specially at Main Street Feeds in Springfield, small amounts most of the year, larger amounts a month prior to kidding and a month after. She supplements with Turner’s loose goat mineral and ADM goat mineral blocks purchased from Kleier Farm and Home in Seymour, Missouri. Judy deworms as needed based on FAMACHA eye membrane checks. She doses with 2 different dewormers orally as well as copper bolus’ when a goat’s hair coat indicates they need more copper. Judy’s goats are full blooded Boers, registered through the American Boer Goat Association (ABGA). They are bred for the first time at 1.5 years of age and kid for the first time at 2 years old. They are bred annually thereafter, until they are 6 or 7 years of age, if still in good condition.
Judy Bowen does not competitively show her goats, although many buyers are showing them and doing very well in the show ring. “Showing is time-consuming, costly, time away from the farm, very hard work…I’m too lazy to compete. But I love it when my buyers compete and win in the show ring! However, I mostly want my goats to be productive and healthy, ultimately making buyers money and bringing them joy.” says Judy.
Judy shared that her buyers often comment on the gentle nature of her goats, which she attributes to the many hours she spends with the herd. “Because I am a teacher, and once a teacher, always a teacher, I enjoy educating customers or any interested person in the ways of goats. I want my buyers and my goats to be happy with each other, so I spend a lot of time visiting with folks about the care and health treatments of goats.” says Judy.
For much of her life, Judy performed pioneer folk songs at mid-west festivals. She sings and accompanies herself on acoustic guitar. For several years she performed at Silver Dollar City’s Folk Music Festival. She taught Elderhostels on the Ozarks, performed pioneer shows for children at libraries and schools, and presented concerts of folk music at concert venues and universities.
In recent years, Judy has stopped performing because raising goats has become the focus of her life. She does sing to her goats “…whether they like it or not!” she proclaims. “I think about performing again, sometimes,” she says. “I think I will at some point. I’ve got all those old folk songs still in my head.”
Judy’s farm includes a couple of dog friends, Boone and Angel, and some chickens. “I love to watch chickens!” Judy proudly shares. She sells eggs, as quickly as she can collect them, out of her workshop to neighbors and friends.
Judy’s love for goats is contagious. She truly lights up when talking about her many ‘kids.’ “I am passionate about goats. I just love them! I love their personalities, the way they look, and their colorations. Seeing them wandering out in the green pastures brings me such joy.” she shares.
Judy advertises her goats on her Facebook page, Judy Domeny Bowen. She also advertises on various Facebook goat sites and Craigslist. She is working on having a website built for her farm, Judy’s Green Acres. Until the new site is up and running, you can read more about her and her goats (including farm stories) on her Facebook page as well as on two websites created in the past, but still visible: judydomenybowen.com and essarysgreenacres.com.
